HOUSTON
Running Back Harold Taylor
"The first time they called that play (the 49-yard running TD) for me, Coach (Briles) told me to take it to the house. But I got run out of bounds. So when he called it the second time, he said, `if you don't score a touchdown, I'm not giving it (the ball) to you again.' So I said `alright.' So when I got it (the ball), I just did what I do - I just ran. It's all I could do. Coach called the play, I have to deliver. If I don't, I don't get the ball again. So, that's that."

Quarterback Kevin Kolb
"That's all that matters, that's all that matters. I'll take two picks with a win."

On the two touchdowns
"The first half was rough. I didn't play my game in the first half, we didn't play our game. We had a lot of opportunities and just didn't get it down. That score should have been 52-7. We just turned the ball over too much. Thank God for the defense; they kept us in the game and gave us opportunities."

In the difference between the first half and the second
"We came in here (locker room) at half-time and we all realized we were killing ourselves. There was nobody else. We just went out there with determination and tried to put things together and it started clicking. We still had some mistakes - it wasn't like it was flawless. A few things went our way and we finally started putting some points on the board."

Head Coach Art Briles
When you called timeout before scoring that TD, what was your thought-process?
"Actually, we were going to kick a field goal. We called a timeout, they (ECU) called a timeout, and our guys came over and said, `Coach, we can do this.' So if they (players) believed in them, I believed in them. It was a deal where they were ready to roll, so we took a shot and it worked out for us."

On the big-play production by the Cougars in the game
"We knew Harold (Taylor) had it in him; he's a big-play guy. We call him Mr Dependable because he is every time he steps out on the field. Some other kids had big plays, too. Perry McDaniel had a big catch early in the game, Leonard Gibson had a big play. They (ECU) kind of took Vincent (Marshall) out of the game, that was their plan. So other guys had to rise up. Donnie (Avery) had a big catch, too. It was a good blend of everyone taking over and contributing. Plus, I think it was the offensive line that made the biggest difference in the ball game.

"We were able to run the ball when we needed to run the ball, and that's the difference in the game."

East Carolina
Head Coach John Thompson
"Well, we got out-played in the second half, that is pretty obvious. We made critical mistakes that they (Cougars) capitalized on. We ended up fighting up with a different group. We had some new receivers and an offensive line...Our guys competed, but I'm disappointed in the penalties. We had a chance after going up in the first quarter, and then we had a touchdown taken away after a foolish penalty. Then we get the ball on the one-yard line and we get called for a face mask, another foolish penalty. All of those things add up.

"We came back; we got the late score and get the on-side kick and have a chance at it (the game). When you look at it, we had a lot of points taken away. They just out-played us. Art Briles did a great job, the quarterback (Kolb) did a great job, (Anthony) Evans had a big night and they pounded us with the run. And we came out on the short side."

It seemed like the defense was out there on the field too long, and they played well when fresh, but it seemed like they were just out there too long...
"It's the defense's fault that we are out there way too long. They (Cougars) made some third downs on us. I thought we had a lot of emotion and did some good things in the first half. We came up with a couple of interceptions, a couple of stops in the red zone and did some really good things. There was a lot of energy on the sideline. In this dressing room during half-time, there was a lot of energy. But we just came out here in the second half and we really lost it down at the goal line. They (Cougars) had it - they had the momentum - and kept going."